Likely Democrat

Lean Democrat

Tossup

Lean Republican

Likely Republican

The Democrats met expectations in many seats they were expected to flip, but mostly failed to chalk up surprises. They are, though, in control of the lower chamber, and at last in a position to challenge Donald Trump.
Full results map

Likely Democrat

Lean Democrat

Tossup

Lean Republican

Likely Republican

Democrats were keen to win governorships in crucial swing states to avoid Republican gerrymandering in the 2020 census redistricting. They will be disappointed not to take Georgia or Florida.
Full results map

Likely Democrat

Lean Democrat

Tossup

Lean Republican

Likely Republican

What are the midterm elections?

The US holds congressional elections every two years. At each election the whole of the House of Representatives and one third of the 100-member Senate are elected. The representatives thus serve a two-year term, and the senators six years.

These elections are known as midterms when they fall outside the four-year presidential election cycle. Being in the middle of the presidential term, they are usually understood to be at least partially a reaction to the president's performance so far, and usually see the president's party losing seats.

Donald Trump's Republicans - red in the maps and charts, and often called the GOP, or "grand old party" - went into the election campaign controlling both houses of Congress. The opposition Democrats - in blue above - were hoping for a "blue wave" that would put them in a position to moderate and sometimes block Trump's agenda.

These live results come from the Associated Press. Some other information comes from the US Congress. The Guardian race ratings are derived from other polling organisations and our own research.